KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
January 26, 2022
By Natalie Cook Clark
A Mayde Creek High School graduate died earlier this month from a hit and run in San Marcos. The driver of the commercial-style truck never stopped to render aid after the student’s vehicle flipped multiple times. Her parents want closure.
UPDATE (February 3, 2022:) A suspect has been arrested and charged with Accident Involving Death, a second-degree felony. Details below.
Iliana Velez, a 2020 Mayde Creek High School graduate was killed this month in a hit and run incident. Photo credit: Trula Velez
Maybe Creek Grad Attended Texas State University
Iliana Velez, 19, grew up in Katy and graduated from Mayde Creek High School in 2020. She went to Texas State in San Marcos for a duel degree in Architecture and Interior Design.
At 19, Iliana paid her own rent and utilities. Her family says that she never asked for assistance and worked an overnight job at Amazon to pay her bills.
UPDATE: Arrest Made
The Medina County Sheriff's Office has arrested Jordan Michael Sannicola, 28, who is suspected of fleeing the scene of a crash that killed Texas State Student and Mayde Creek High School graduate Iliana Velez.
San Marcos police identified Sannicola as the suspect after photos showed him arriving at Amazon's Kyle distribution facility in a box truck 15 minutes after the crash that killed Velez. He has been arrested for Accident Involving Death, a second-degree felony.
According to Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Sannicola had outstanding felony warrants from Kendall County for one count of Evading Arrest in a Vehicle and two counts of Abandoning/Endangering a Child at the time of the accident.
Killed in a Hit and Run in San Marcos
At 2:00 a.m. on January 3, 2022, Iliana was returning from her break to her job at Amazon when a commercial-style truck collided with her vehicle on I-35. According to her parents, her vehicle flipped several times. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
“My heart is broken,” says her mother Trula Velez, who describes her relationship with her daughter as being very close.
Investigators obtained footage of the commercial-style truck that shows the unusual style cabin circle back around after the accident to see Iliana’s vehicle before driving off, never stopping to render aide.
Investigators say that the truck’s cab is partially yellow with a white box. It also has an unusual axle in the middle of the box.
Iliana’s parents, Trula and Jose Velez hope that the driver will come forward so that they can have some closure.
Iliana Velez was a Katy ISD District Champion in the 4X4. Photo credit: Trula Velez.
A Mayde Creek Track Star
Iliana Velez was an award winning track runner during her time at Mayde Creek. According to her mother she won a District title and over 30 medals.
“She ran track, the 4X4 and her coach said she was a special one,” says Trula. “We made it to Districts and she won.”
Iliana also played the piano and was described as a self-taught musician. She enjoyed playing everything from Beethoven to Alicia Keys and John Legend.
Her favorite Katy hangouts were the Katy Library, Starbucks, and Katy Mills Mall.
In addition to her parents, Iliana is survived by her younger sister Soraya Velez and her grandmothers and grandfather.
"Iliana was a bright light to so many individuals," says Trula. "She would light up the room with her smile and silly personality. She was determined. driven to be successful."
If you have any information about this incident, contact San Marcos Police Department at smyers@sanmarcostx.gov.
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